Ladder dolly



Jan. 22, 1963 E. E. PELKY LADDER DOLLY Filed Aug. 8, 1961 INVENTO/P EUGEIE E. PELKY BK. LQ WK/ ATTORNEY 3,074,567 LADDER DOLLY Eugene E. Peiky, 1239 Highland Ave., Racine, Wis. Filed Aug. 8, 1961, Ser. No. 139,180 Claims. (Cl. 182-127) This invention relates to a ladder dolly, and more particularly it relates to a dolly for supporting a straight type of ladder such that the ladder can be used in either an upright or a tilted position.

It is an object of this invention to provide a ladder dolly of an improved type and particularly to provide one which will securely hold the lower end of the ladder in a fixed position of either a vertical or a tilted attitude.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a ladder dolly which is adjustable to adjust for irregular ground or the like support so that the ladder can be securely supported in a selected upright position.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a ladder dolly which is adjustable for securely holding the ladder in a number of selected adjusted positions varying from a vertical position to tilted positions and it would therefore permit the ladder to be used without leaning the ladder against any additional support as the dolly will completely support the ladder.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a ladder dolly wherein the user can place the ladder in an upright position and mount the same, and then he can move the ladder along the ground or like support without getting off the ladder, and this can be accomplished without supporting the ladder against a building or the like.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent upon reading the following description in light of the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a fragment of a preferred embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a part of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

'FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a part of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view of a fragment of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the several views.

The drawings show the dolly or support to consist of a plurality of wheels 19 which are rotatably supported on their axle 11 which in turn are mounted on frame members or angle irons 12. Thus, it will be noted that each pair of angle irons 12 has a wheel at each end thereof and the pairs of angle irons 12 are secured together by means of a plate 13 which can of course be welded or otherwise attached to the angle iron 12.

Thus it will be noted that three sets of wheels are provided and these wheel means are designated 14, 16, and 17.

The center wheel set 16 has two spaced-apart U-shaped brackets or mounting means 13 attached thereto by welding or the like at the lower ends of the mounting means 18 so that the ladder extends upright from the angle irons 12. It will further be noted that a conventional type of ladder generally designated 19 has its side rails 21 disposed Within the brackets 18 with the ladder rungs 22 extending therebetween. Thus the two brackets 18 securely support the ladder 19 in the vertical position shown as long as the dolly with the three wheel sets 14, 16, and 17 are in the position shown.

At this time it will be noted that the wheel sets 14 and 17 are angularly disposed so that their four wheels 10 are disposed at approximately a 45 degree angle while their supporting braces or connectors 23 are disposed at approximately a 30 degree angle. The braces or connectors 23 are therefore attached to the wheel sets 14 and 17 through the plates 24 which can be welded to the respective angle irons 12 so that the braces 23 and the sets 14 and 17 are rigidly secured together.

Further, it will be noted that the braces 23 are provided with slots 26 extending lengthwise in the braces, and the slot 26 of each of the braces 23 receives an adjusting bolt 27 which is mounted on the brackets 18 with one bolt of course on each bracket 18 and with the bolt extending beyond the braces 23 so that the washer 28 and nut 29 provide for clamping the braces 23 to the brackets 18. Further, pins 31 which are guides are also secured to the brackets 18 and extend therefrom to project through the slots 26 and the braces 23 to thus guide the braces 23 in their sliding movement along the clamping bolt 27 and the pins 31.

It will therefore be understood that the Wheel units 14 and 17 are adjustable so that their respective wheels 10 can be raised and lowered and thus they can both adjust for irregular ground on which they rest so that the ladder 19 can be disposed in a vertical position, or they can of course adjust so that the ladder can be disposed at an angle and yet all six of the wheels 10 can remain in contact with the supporting ground or the like. With this arrangement, the ladder 19 is securely supported on the dolly and the entire rig with the ladder 19 can be moved in the direction of the orientation of the wheels 10 as it is desired to move along the building on which one may be working by painting or repairing or other types of work including carpentry. It will further be understood that the dolly in the position shown in the drawings will support the ladder in a vertical position so that the ladder 19 can be used as a structural supporting member for angling other ladders therefrom at the upper end of the ladder 19 to form a tripod to support three ladders, namely one to each side of the ladder 19, and this arrangement permits scafiolding to be mounted on the three ladders, or the ladder 19 can simply be retained in the upright or vertical position shown so that one can climb the ladder and work on the position he is in with the ladder 19 in the vertical attitude shown.

Where it is desired to go to extreme heights with the ladder 19 supported solely by the dolly, or where the ladder 19 may be disposed at an angle which could be better sustained by additional dolly support, an additional rig or support generally designated 36 is applied to the dolly. In this instance, it will be noted that the rig 36 exits on each side of the dolly described and consists of three members 37, 38, and 39. These members may of course be tubular as shown and they are preferably pivotally mounted on the dolly by providing a shaft desig- Dated 41 in FIG. 3 which is rigidly attached to and extends from the bracket 18, and a first sleeve 42 is disposed over the shaft 41 and this supports the rig 36 to the left as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, and therefore this rig 36 is pivoted from the lowered horizontal position shown to the upright position parallel with the ladder 19 when its deesired to transport the entire structure. Another sleeve 43 is shown to be rotatably mounted over the outer end of the shaft 41 and this sleeve is welded or otherwise connected to the rig members 37 and 39 at each side of the rig 36 so that the ladder can also be pivoted with respect to the dolly from the lowered horizontal position to the upright and substantially vertical position.

Thus the two rigs 36 can be placed in the horizontal position shown and clamps or other fasteners such as the C clamps 44 can be secured to the members 37 and 39 of the rig 36 and to the angle irons 12 of the dolly to rigidly fasten the rig 36 with respect to the dolly and thus secure the two together as shown.

It will of course therefore be understood that the rigs 36 are both secured to the dolly by means of clamps 44 so that a firm rectangular base is provided. It will also be noted that supporting wheels such as the castering wheels 46 are mounted on the outer corners of the rig 36 for the purpose hereinafter mentioned. It will be noted that the caster wheels '46 are rotatably mounted in their arms 47 which in turn are connected to a threaded screw 48 which of course operates through the nut member 49 secured to the corners of the rig 36 in any conventional manner. Thus, upon operation of the jack screw 48, the caster wheels 46 are raised and lowered so that the wheels 46, for instance can be lowered into engagement with "the ground and then the wheels are raised off the ground and the entire support of the rig is on the caster wheels 46. This of course permits a firm base because of the lateral extent of the supporting wheels 46, and it of course also provides for universal movement of the entire rig since the caster wheels will permit it to be moved in any direction desired.

It will therefore be understood that sturdy and stable support is provided for a ladder, but nevertheless the support or dolly permits the ladder to be moved so that the user can actually move the ladder and the entire support from his position at the top of the ladder and 'he need not therefore return to the ground each time the ladder must be moved. Further, the dolly disclosed permits the ladder to be moved to the Work site in the vertical position and it need not be carried as it can be rolled ofi the dolly and the latter is then available for firmly supporting the base of the ladder when the ladder is leaned against a building or even when it is retained -inthe upright position. In all instances, all six wheels 10 are available for supporting the ladder in a stable condition. It will also be noted that braces 51 are suitably connected between the brackets 18 by welding or the liketo stabilize the construction.

7 While a specific embodiment of this invention has been shown and'described, it will be understood that certain changes could be made therein and the invention therefore-should be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

ing means'for receiving the lower ends of the side rails of a ladder to fixedly support the same with respect to said dolly, first wheel means rotatably attached to said mounting means for mobily supporting the latter and dis posed therebelow in an upright direction and fixedly attached thereto in the upright plane of said mounting means for non-'pivotally' supporting the latter and directed in the upright plane through said mounting means, second wheel means disposed offset to one side of said upright plane through said first wheel means and being tilted toward said mounting means and mobily supporting the latter and beingdi'rected in the direction of said first wheel means, and an adjustable connector extending between said "mounting means and said second wheel means and being attached to the latter two for adjustably securing them together at a selected angle to dispose said ladder at a' corresponding angle when both said wheel means are engaged with the ground.

7 2. A ladder dolly comprising a pair of spaced-apart brackets for securing the lower' ends of the side rails of a ladder, first ground-engaging wheels connected to said brackets and spaced apart a distance greater than the :space between said brackets and being directed in the one plane extending through both said brackets and being fixedly connected thereto for non-pivotal support thereof, second ground-engaging-wheels disposed to each side of said barckets ofiset from said plane and being angled to the latter to tilt toward said brackets and being spaced apart on said each side a distance greater than the space between said brackets and being disposed on a level therebelow for mobily supporting said brackets and being directed in the same direction as said first groundengaging wheels, and an adjustable braceconnecting said second ground-engaging wheels and said brackets together at a selected angle therebetween.

3. A ladder dolly comprising mounting means having two spaced-apart sections for securing the lower ends of the side rails of a ladder in a vertical plane, a pair of wheel frame members of a length greater than the spacing of said sections and disposed one to each side of said vertical plane, a ground-engaging wheel mounted on each opposite end of said frame members and being angled with respect to said vertical plane to tilt toward said mounting means and being disposed on a level thereber low for mobily supporting said mounting means and directed parallel to the common plane'of said side rails, an adjustable brace connecting said wheels and said mounting means together at a selected angle therebetween and being rigidly attached to each said frame member and adjustably attached to said mounting means, releasable fastening means connecting each said brace and said mounting means, and additional ground-engaging wheels being connected to said mounting means and being disposed therebelow in said vertical plane thereof and spaced apart a distance greater than the space between said sections for mobily supporting said mounting means and directed in the direction of the other said wheels and fixedly connected to said mounting means.

4. A ladder dolly comprising mounting means for re ceiving the lower ends of the side rails of a ladder to fixedly support the same, first and second wheel means rigidly attached to opposite sides of said mounting means for mobily supporting the same at a fixed angle and with said wheel means being directed in the common plane of said side rails, and a pair of elongated rigs pivotally connected to each side of said mounting means for move ment between an upper inoperative position and a lower operative position,"said rigs extending across and beyond each said wheel means in said lower operative position and being attached thereto and engagable with the ground for stabilizing said dolly.

5. A ladder dolly comprising mounting means for receiving the lower ends of the side rails of a ladder to fixedly support the same, first and second wheel means rigidly attached to opposite sides of said mounting means for mobily supporting the same at a fixed angle and with said wheel means being directed in the common plane of said side rails, a pair of elongated rigs pivotally connected to each'side of said mounting means for movement between an upper inoperative position and a lower operative position, said rigs extending across and beyond each said wheel means in said lower operative position and being attached thereto, and wheels connected to the free ends of said rigs and engagable with the ground for mobily supporting and stabilizing said dolly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A LADDER DOLLY COMPRISING UPRIGHTLY DISPOSED MOUNTING MEANS FOR RECEIVING THE LOWER ENDS OF THE SIDE RAILS OF A LADDER TO FIXEDLY SUPPORT THE SAME WITH RESPECT TO SAID DOLLY, FIRST WHEEL MEANS ROTATABLY ATTACHED TO SAID MOUNTING MEANS FOR MOBILY SUPPORTING THE LATTER AND DISPOSED THEREBELOW IN AN UPRIGHT DIRECTION AND FIXEDLY ATTACHED THERETO IN THE UPRIGHT PLANE OF SAID MOUNTING MEANS FOR NON-PIVOTALLY SUPPORTING THE LATTER AND DIRECTED IN THE UPRIGHT PLANE THROUGH SAID MOUNTING MEANS, SECOND WHEEL MEANS DISPOSED OFFSET TO ONE SIDE OF SAID UPRIGHT PLANE THROUGH SAID FIRST WHEEL MEANS AND BEING TILTED TOWARD SAID MOUNTING MEANS AND MOBILY SUPPORTING THE 